Sequence controller mechanism



P 1944. H. E. soMEs 1 2,359,059

SEQUENC E CONTROLLER ME CHANI SM Original Filed ma 10, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fiowaldfi', 50772495 ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1944. H.E. SOMES SEQUENCE CONTRCLLER MECHANI SM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 OriginalINVENTOR Filed May 10, 1941 ffowar'd E 50777183 ATTORNEY .a ||x|l||| I Llmmmilmwwii i i it lml |||||||||r .nm MWWWUIWUIMHVIRIJW.

Sept. 26, I944. so s 2,359,059

SEQUENCE CONTROLLER MECHANISM Qriginal Filed May 10, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet3 I E E 30 F '*Z3,

. 1 114 2 150 I 0 l m- I N V EN TOR flowardfi', 3077186 y mw A TTORNE YSept. 26, 1944. H. E. SOMES SEQUENCE CONTROLLER MECHANISM Original FiledMay 10, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fiowar'dfl' Sames BY w Q? Z24 4 p1944. H. E. SOMES 2,359,059

SEQUENCE CONTROLLER MECHANISM Original Filed May 10, 1941- 5Sheets-Sheet 5 ml, h

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; ummummuum rll m n INVENTOR fibwardfl'l Some-5 ATTORNEY Patented Sept.26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Induction Heating, Inc.,

Philadelphia, Pa., a

corporation of Michigan Original application May 10, 1941, Serial No.

392,867.- Divided and this application July 7,

1942, Serial No. 450,034

12 Claims.

This invention is a division of my copending application, Serial No.392,867, filed May 10, 1941, for Heat treating apparatus.

The present invention relates. to timing apparatus, more particularly toapparatus of the rotary drum type for operating a plurality of controldevices, such as for example, switches or valves in predeterminedsequence. In my copending application aforesaid, I have disclosed anddescribed an induction heat treating machine in which the various partsthereof and their operations, such as the shutting on and oil of theelectrical energy, the quenching medium and the cooling medium for thetransformer and inducing coils, and the actuation of such devices as thework feeding means, the quench head and the switching transformer arecontrolled in predetermined sequence or timed relation. Articles ofdifferent characteristics as to diameter, length and metallurgicalcomposition require different treatments and as a result the operationof the various machine elements requires different timing for differentarticles.

Sequence controllers oi the conventional drum type employ series of camsfor operating the different valves or switches in predetermined orderand it is obvious that in such apparatus having, for example, ten ortwelve control switches or valves, it is necessary in changing over foroperation on different articles to expend considerable time in makingthe necessary cam adjustments.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is theprovision of an improved sequence controller which is capable of quickand easy change in timing without the necessity of effecting a pluralityof adjustments.

Another object is to provide a sequence controller with a plurality ofsets of commonly-carried operating cams in which each set can bepreliminarily adjusted for a given timing condition and in which achange from one timing condition to another can be readily and easilyeffected by merely shifting the common cam carrying means to position adesired set of cams in operative position.

A further object is to provide a sequence controller with an axiallyshiftable cam supporting drum and in which improved adjustable means isprovided for connecting the drum and its operating mechanism.

With the above and other objects in view,

which will be apparent from the following description, the presentinvention consists in certain features of construction and combinationsof parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, and then claimed.

In the drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment or the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sequence controller of the presentinvention, parts thereof being shown in section to illustrate detailedfeatures of construction;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the controller shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a left and elevation of the controller as illustrated inFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a right end elevation of the controller as illustrated inFigure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 55 ofFigure 1;

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 6-6 ofFigure 1;

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on theline 'l-i of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on the line 8-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 9--9of Figure 3; and

Figure 10 is a horizontal fragmentary section 25 taken substantially online ill-40 of Figure 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer tolike parts tin-oughout the several views, the sequence controller is ofthe rotary drum type and although shown in my oopending application inconnection with an induction heat treating machine it is applicable foruse in any character of apparatus wherein a plurality of operations areto be controlled in predetermined timed sequence through switches,valves and the like. Referring to Figure l, the sequence controller willbe seen to comprise a drum 20 having a plurality oi cam circumferentialgrooves 22 thereon and suitable cams 24. The drum is rotatable withrespect to the frame 26 and switch bar 28, there being a plurality ofswitches 30 (diagrammatically illustrated) arranged on the bar 28 andprovided with cam followers 32 for actuating the same, the followersbeing adjustably depending from the switches 30 and adapted to engagecertain of the cams 24. It is to be understood that valves of anysuitable type may be substituted for the switches 30 and operated by thefollowers 32. As will be seen from the drawings, the frame 26 comprisesend members 34 and 36 mounted on and securely fastened to a base member31. The switch supporting bar 28 is detachably secured to the endmembers 34 and 36 through the pivoting bolts 38 (see Figure 3). Thebolts 38 engage the bar 28 through end slots 40 so that by swinging thedrum 20 fix the drum in any particular chosen position and prevent itsshifting therefrom.

When the drum is in a particular desired position, the assemblyincluding the pivot arms 5d and 52, and the shaft 56, is rotatedupwardly, through the rotation of the eccentric .cams 62 and 64, to theupper position, the latter being effected through manipulation of handle88 on the lever 90 (see Figure 3). The lever 88 is which the switches 30are operated for different conditions, the cam drum 2G is adapted to beshifted axially in order to present a'new series of cams for sequentialoperation of the switches For this purpose, the cam drum 2!) is mountedupon a drive shaft N which in turn is journalled in bearings Q5 and 48at either end, the bearings being carried withiri pivotal arms 50 and52. The arms are tied together by a rail 53 and pivotally arranged uponthe longitudinally extending reciprocable and rocking shaft 54,extending between the end frame members 3t and 36. The arm 5!! issecured to the shaft 54 by a through bolt 56 and is held againstrotation by the abutment faces 58 and lid on the underside of each armwhich engage with eccentric cams 62 and 64 mounted upon a rotatableshaft 66 extending between the end frame members 35 and 36 (see Figure1).

The assembly including the drum 2@, shaft 56 and the bearing supportarms 5% and 52 is shiftable longitudinally and rotatable angularly, uponthe rotation of the eccentric earns 62 and cc to a positionsubstantially at 180 from that illustrated in Figure 1, which 180position is indicated by the reference character 68 in Figure 5. It willbe observed in Figure 5, that when the assembly of pivot arms so and 52,the shaft 53 and drum is rotated by reason of the shift,- ing of thecams 62 and 66 to the position shown at 68, the drum 2G and the partsassociated therewith are lowered with reference to the cam followers 32of the cam operated switches 36 so that longitudinal shifting of thedrum may be effected without interference with the switch cam followersas will hereinafter appear. gear drive, indicated generally by thereference character it, for the drum, will likewise be disengaged bysuch angular movement, permitting longitudinal movement of the drum forshifting from one set of cams out of, to another set into operativerelation with the switches 3d.

When the drum is in the lower position, as is indicated in dottedoutline in Figure 5, the drum may be shifted to the right or left by theindexing cranlriZ pivotally arranged on the indexing plate it which issecured to the end frame member 33% (see Figure 1). As will be seen inFi ures 4 and 7 the indexing crank it is adapted to rotate a shaft idhaving gear teeth it meshing with circular rack teeth 88 arranged in theend of the shaft SE of the drum carrying assembly. It will thus appearthat through the rotation of the crank E2, the shaft 58 -may be shiftedto the left from the position shown in Figure 1 or 7, any desired amountby releasing the crank if and its look at from the indexing apertures 85and rotating to any one of four positions. Through the engagement of thespring pressed knob and pin 82 carried in the prank, the pin lock 84 isadapted to che se the apertures 85 in the indexing plate 3% 59 as to Thecorrectly positioned in its upward position, when the drum is in raisedposition, by its engagement with an abutment 92 on the end frame 35 andlatched in position by the spring pressed dog 94 engaging the shoulder96 on the abutment 92.

Provision is made to interlock the indexing crank 12 so thatmanipulation thereof cannot be effected when the lever 90 is in theupward or locked position illustrated in Figure 3. For this purpose, the.shaft 54 is provided with notches 98, one for each indexing position orfour notches in all into which a lever lock we pivoted on the end frame36 is adapted to drop to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft 54.The lever lock [B0, however, is provided with an oppositely extendingarm m2 adapted to engage the eccentric cam 62 on its underside so .thatupon rotation thereof to the position inof engagement with the notches98. To assure the lever lock llili against jarring free of the notches98, a spiral spring W6 is provided upon the boss )8 to which the leverlock is pivoted, the spiral spring we urging the lock in acounterclockwise direction as is iilustrated'in Figures 3 and 5.

The drive for the drum is effected through the chain of gears as hasbeen indicated by the reference characters I0. For this purpose, the

' frame is provided with a back shelf no, upon which is mounted a drivemotor H2 coupled to a reduction gear Ht, the reduction gear beingsplined as at M5 to a shaft H6 carrying a bank of plnions'ilt, and theshaft H6 being journalled in spaced bearings 52D carried upon a base I22which is longitudinally shiftable upon a way I24. The pinions H6 may beof varying diameter to afford changes in speed of drive and shiftablewith the base I22 on its way 926. In order to accommodate a gear driveto the drum from any one of the various different diameter pinions, anidler gear I26, angularly adjustable with respect to the axis of thedrum so that the idler gear may be swung to a position so as to meshwith any desired pinion H6, as is illustrated in Figure 1, is provided.The idler gear I26 is journailed upon an arm i28 rotatable about thedrum shaft 64, the am being journalled on a bearing sleeve as at I30. Itwill be appreciated that the arm is free to swing to any such positionas may be necessary to engage the idler gear i26 with a pinion E22 andis of the correct length to maintain the idler gear I26 in proper meshwith the main drive gear i32, keyed to the drum drive shaft In order tofix the position of the arm H28 in any desired position, the bearing arm56 is provided with an extension arm its having an arcuate slot 538therein through which a shaft I38, upon which the idler gear 626rotates, extends. The shaft use is provided with a head in on one sideof the arm H4 and the slot L36. The shaft E38 is also keyed to thebeartion and is provided with alsleeve I having an antiiriction bearingI46 for the idler gear I26. The shaft I38 is threaded at I48 to receivea hand wheel I50 having a complementary threaded shank I52.

It will appear that by rotation of the hand wheel In the shaft I38 mayserve to clamp the arm I28 and the arm I34 together at any angularposition through the compressional force transmitted through the sleeveI by the shank I52 of the hand wheel I 50. Thus by loosening the handwheel I50 the idler gear may be angularly shifted to engage any one ofthe pinions I I8 with extreme precision so that through the use ofaccurately ground gears, a positive, perfect and uniform drive betweenthe motor I I2 and the controller drum is assured. However, to assureagainst backlash the bearing support arm 52 of the controller drumassembly may be provided with a spring pressed plunger II having afriction face I53 adapted to frictionally rub against the controllerdrum thus positively assuring absence of backlash. The plunger I5I isprovided with a handle I58 extending through an arcuate slot I58 in theend frame member 34 so that it may be released to free the rotation ofthe drum manually as desired for setting the drum to any desiredstarting position.

It can be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a sequencecontroller with an axially shiftable cam-carrying drum which can beprovided with a plurality of sets of cams in which each set can beadjusted for a given timing condition and wherein the drum can bequickly and easily shifted to position any set into operative relationwith the switches or valves to be operated thereby.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the detailedconstruction of the various parts without departing from the spirit andsubstance of the invention, the scope of which is defined by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A timing device comprising a frame, a plu rality of cam operatedcontrol means on said frame, a roll having a plurality of sets of camsfor actuating said control, means, means for shifting said roll relativeto said control means to engage different sets of cams with said controlmeans, and means for bodily moving said roll away from said controlmeans to facilitate the shifting of said roll relative to said controlmeans.

2. A timing device comprising a frame, a plurality of cam operatedcontrol means on said for actuating said control means, means for movingsaid roll relative to said control meansto clear of said control means,and means for axially moving said roll relative to said control means tobring a different set of cams into position for actuating said controlmeans.

3. A timing device comprising a frame, a plurality of cam operatedcontrol means on said frame, a roll having sets of cams for actuatingsaid control means, means for moving said roll relative to said controlmeans to clear of said control means, and means for axially moving saidroll relative to said control means to bring a different set of camsinto position for actuating said control means, and means for preventing1 relative axial movement except when said control means and saidanother.

4. A timing device comprising a frame, a plurality of cam operatedcontrol means on said frame, a roll having sets of cams for actuatingroll are moved clear of one end face I54 of the frame, a roll having aplurality of sets of cams shiftable position and preventing operation ofsaid roll is in its operating position.

said controlmeans, meansfor moving said roll relative to said controlmeans to clear of said control means, and means for moving said rollaxially relative to said control means to bring a different set of camsinto position for actuating said control means, and interlocking meansto prevent relative paraxial movement between said roll and controlmeans when said roll is in operating position with respect to saidcontrol means.

5. In a timing device, a frame, a cam carrying roll, means for mountingsaid roll in said frame for bodily movement with respect thereto, adriven gear for said roll, a source of constant speed power mounted onsaid 'frame and having a drive gear in alignment with said driven gear,an idler gear adapted to mesh with said gears and means for supportingsaid gear from said roll mounting means andadapted to bodily move saididler gear into and out of mesh with said drive gear with bodilymovement of said roll.

6. In a timing device, a frame, a plurality of control means mounted onsaid frame, a cam roll having a plurality of sets of cams thereon,supporting means for said cam roll pivotally mounted on said frame forswinging said roll from an operating position adjacent said controlmeans to a shiftable position, means for axially shifting saidsupporting means to align a predetermined set of cams with said controlmeans and means for swinging said supporting means to move said rollfrom its operating position to its shiftable position and vice versa.

7. In a timing device, a frame, a plurality of control means mounted onsaid frame, a cam roll having a plurality of sets of cams thereon,supporting means for said cam roll pivotally mounted on said frame forswinging saidroll from an operating position adjacent said control meansto a shiftable position, means for axially shifting said supportingmeans to align a predetermined set of cams with said control means,means for swinging said supporting means to move said roll from itsoperating position to its vice versa, and means for said shifting meanswhen 8. In a timing device, a frame, a spaced plurality of control meansmounted on said frame, a cam roll having a pluralityof sets of camsthereon, each set having the same spacing as said control means andbeing axially contiguous an adjacent set, a shaft parallel to said rolland being rotatably and axially movably mounted in said frame, spacedroll mounting means rigidly secured to said shaft for rotatablysupporting said roll, a cam'device rotatably supported in said frame andengaged with said roll mounting means for pivotally moving said mountingmeans to bodily move said roll relative to said frame and disengage oneset of cams from said control devices, and means for axially shiftingsaid shaft to align another set of cams with said control devices.

9. In a timing device, a frame, a spaced plurality of control meansmounted on said frame, a cam roll having a plurality of sets of camsthereon, each set having the same spacing as said control means andbeing axially contiguous an adjacent set, a shaft parallel to said rolland being rotatably and axially movably mounted in said frame, spacedroll mounting means rigidly secured to said shaft for rotatablysupporting said roll, a cam device rotatably supported in said frame andengaged with said roll mounting means for pivotally moving said mountingmeans 4 aasaosa to bodily move said roll relative to said ire anddisengage one set or cams from said control devices, means for axiallyshifting said shaft to align another set of cams with said controldevices, and an interlocking device actuatable by said cam device intoand out of locking engagement with said shaft to prevent axial movementof said shaft when one set of cams is engaged with said control devicesand to permit such axial movement when said cam device is rotated tobodily move said roll. s

10. In a timing device, a cam roll having a plurality of cams thereon,means for rotatably supporting said roll on said iramea driven gear forrotating said roll, a source of constant speed power, a driving gear sethaving a plurality of coaxial stepped drive gears connected with saidsource to be driven thereby, an idler gear meshed with said driven gearand one of said stepped gears, means for axially shifting saidsupporting means, said roll and said driven gear relative to said gearset, and mounting means for said idler gear; said mounting means beingshiftabie with said supporting means and being pivotally supportedcoaxially with said driven gear to move said idler gear about saiddriven gear in meshed engagement therewith and into meshing engagementwith another one of said gear set.

' roll rotatably supported by said frame, means- 11. A tim devicecomprising a frame, a cam for rotating said roll. spaced cam-operatedcontrol devices mounted on said frame, a plurality ofsets of cams onsaid roll, each set being spaced the same as said control devices, and,means for enacting relative shifting movement of said cams and controldevices to effect operative engage ment between said control devices andone of said sets of cams.

12. A timing device comprising a frame, a plurality of spacedcam-operated control devices carried by said frame, a cam roll having aplurality of sets of cams thereon, each set being spaced the same assaid control devices, a shaft rotatably and axially shiftably mounted insaid frame, a plurality of arms rigidly secured to said shaft and havingbearings therein for rotatably supporting said roll, said arms beingswingable about said shaft to bodily move said roll away irorn saiddevices to disengage one set of cams therefrom and vice versa, and meansfor axially moving said shaft relative to said frame to align anotherset of cams with said control devices, said last means including a.plurality of stop means corresponding to the number of sets of cams andhaving means for locking axially mov ing means with any one of said stopmeans.

HOWE); E. SOM'ES.

